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The brown recluse spider, also known as the violin spider, is a venomous creature whose bite can cause children and adults to become ill. The brown recluse is unusual because it has only six eyes (most spiders have eight) and wears a violin-shaped marking on its back. If you live in a region that is home to brown recluse spiders, it's a good idea to learn how to identify them. Read on to find out more about how to spot a brown recluse.

Steps

Part 1

Learning to Identify Specific Features

1

Look at the color. A brown recluse has a dirt or sandy brown body with a slightly darker marking at its center; they can also be dark brown and even slightly yellow. Its legs are a lighter brown and completely uniform in color, with no additional markings.[1]

If the spider has stripes or other pigments on its legs, it's not a brown recluse.

If the spider has more than two pigments on its body other than the violin (and maybe a slightly darker abdomen), it's not a brown recluse.

If the spider has legs that are significantly darker than its body, it's not a brown recluse. Keep in mind slight variation can exist in shade and tone.

2

Examine the violin shape on the spider's body. It's a slightly darker brown color than the rest of the body, or cephalothorax. The violin shape isn't clearly defined, so it may not look to you exactly like the musical instrument.

Many spiders have similar shapes on their bodies, so this alone is not significant enough to identify the spider as a brown recluse.

Again, look at the color of the violin shape closely. If it has spots of different pigments, then you are not looking at a recluse. However, injury or sun damage may also cause what would appear as different coloring or texture.

3

Count the eyes. The brown recluse, unlike other spiders, has only six eyes. They are arranged in pairs: one pair is in the center, and there's a pair on either side. Because the eyes are so small, it can be difficult to see them without a magnifying glass. If you count eight eyes, you're not looking at a recluse. (Please be safe when counting - you don't want to conclude there are six just to have it suddenly bite you!) [2]

4

Look for fine hairs. The brown recluse has many fine, short hairs on its body. Unlike some other spiders, it does not have spines on its body or legs. If you see a spider with spines, it's definitely not a recluse.

5

Check the body width. The brown recluse's body doesn't grow to be larger than 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm). If you're looking at a spider that's larger than this, it's a different type of spider.[3]

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Part 1 Quiz

A spider is most likely a brown recluse if:

It has stripes on its legs.

Nope! Brown recluse spiders do not have stripes or other pigments on their legs. There’s a better option out there!

It has more than 2 pigments on its body.

Not quite! A brown recluse spider may have more than 2 pigments on its violin and could have a slightly darker abdomen. However, if your spider has more than 2 pigments anywhere else on its body, it is not a brown recluse. There’s a better option out there!

Its legs are a lighter brown and completely uniform in color.

Right! A brown recluse spider has a brown or yellow body with a slightly darker mark in the middle. Its legs are typically a lighter brown and uniform in color with no additional markings. Read on for another quiz question.

Its legs are significantly darker than its body.

Not exactly! While a brown recluse can have slight shade variations, it does not have legs that are significantly darker than its body. Try another answer...

Part 2

Checking Out the Recluse's Habitat

1

Know what regions recluses inhabit. The brown recluse lives in the southeastern United States.[4] Populations are established in 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.If you don't live in this region, then it is highly unlikely that you will encounter a brown recluse, although it is possible.[5] Contrary to popular myth, brown recluse spiders do not live in California.[6]

2

Know where brown recluses like to reside. True to their name, brown recluse spiders build their webs in out-of-the way places that aren't usually in plain sight. Brown recluses usually build webs in places that are dry and haven't been recently disturbed. Here are a few places you may spot them:

Rotting bark

Attics

Basements

Closets

Sheds

Barns

Woodpiles

Shoes

Dressers

Toilets

Cardboard boxes

Behind pictures

In unused beds

3

Look for the recluse's web. Brown recluse webs are loose, sticky, and off-white or grayish.[7] You won't see a brown recluse web strung between trees or walls - that type of web is built by an orb weaver.

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Part 2 Quiz

In which of the following states might you find a brown recluse?

Georgia

Correct! The brown recluse spider's range includes the Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern regions of the United States, including Georgia. Read on for another quiz question.

Maine

Nope! You will most likely not find the brown recluse spider in Maine. Try another answer...

Idaho

Not exactly! Brown recluse spiders do not normally live in Idaho. Pick another answer!

Michigan

Not quite! The brown recluse spider does not normally reside in Michigan. Choose another answer!

Part 3

Deciding if You Have Brown Recluse Bite

1

Be aware of how the bite feels. The initial bite of the brown recluse usually doesn’t cause pain. This means that you may not be aware of the bite for as long as 8 hours, at which time the bite area will become red, tender and swollen.

2

Notice other symptoms. In some cases the bite alone is the worst symptom, but sensitive people and children may develop other symptoms. Monitor your body for these symptoms that may occur:[8]

Chills

General feeling of illness

Fever

Nausea

Sweating

3

Seek medical treatment. The danger with a bite from this spider is severe tissue damage, and in rare cases it can cause someone to fall into a coma.[9] Seek medical treatment as soon as you realize you were bit by a brown recluse. Seek immediate medical attention if a child or an elderly person has been bitten; the bite of the brown recluse spider is most dangerous to such persons and can produce very severe symptoms. While waiting to get medical treatment, you can take these immediate first-aid steps:

Wash the bite area with soap and water

Apply an ice pack directly to the bite area for ten minutes, then remove it for ten minutes.

Repeat until you reach medical facilities.

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Part 3 Quiz

Which of the following is a symptom of a brown recluse spider bite?

Itching

Not quite! A brown recluse spider bite does not normally itch. It will be red, tender, and swollen. Guess again!

Constipation

Not exactly! You will most likely not experience constipation if you have a brown recluse spider bite. Talk to your doctor to learn more about the causes of constipation. There’s a better option out there!

Diarrhea

Nope! Diarrhea is not a symptom of a brown recluse spider bite. If you experience diarrhea, it is most likely a sign of another malady. Contact your doctor for a diagnosis. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Fever

Absolutely! Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite include chills, a general feeling of illness, fever, nausea, and sweating. Read on for another quiz question.

Community Q&A

Yes. Brown Recluse spiders are very dangerous to animals. If your pet has been bitten by one, take it to the vet the same day and get it examined. Animals are different than people, so you won't see the animals skin rotting away, but it is still very dangerous.

Video.

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Tips

Shake out your seasonal items that you've stored away, footwear or anything kept in a dark area, before you do a lot of handling or wear them.

Common entry points of the brown recluse spider into your home are through vents, gaps under doors and gaps beneath siding. Plug such holes to prevent entry and vacuum/sweep up dead insects regularly to remove a desirable meal source.

It is rare to see the brown recluse during daylight hours.

Brown recluse spiders typically live for 2 to 4 years, and are preyed on by geckos, crickets, centipedes, and wolf spiders.

Warnings

The brown recluse is not a particularly aggressive arachnid; this spider will tend to only strike at you if it gets trapped against your skin - something that happens most often when you roll over in bed or put on clothing. Most bites are done in self-defense because the spider feels threatened.

If you live in an area where brown recluse spiders are prevalent, it is wise to shake out your bed linens and blankets before going to bed. You should also check your shoes and slippers before putting them on; this spider is likely to crawl into them during the night.

This spider cannot bite through clothing, so be sure to wear heavy-duty gloves and long sleeves if you are sorting through plastic bags, boxes, or other materials.

To identify a brown recluse, look for a sandy brown spider with a darker mark on its body and long, uniformly colored legs with no markings. If you can, get a closer look at the dark shape on the body to see if it is all one color, or many different colors. If it’s a uniform color, the spider is likely a brown recluse. Look for 3 sets of 2 eyes positioned on the front of the head, and a body that is colored in very fine hairs. For information on where brown recluses live and how to identify a bite, keep reading!

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Co-Authored By:

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Co-authors: 36

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Views: 2,236,885

94% of readers found this article helpful.

115 votes - 94%

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94% of people told us that this article helped them.

Nikki Hale Cooper

Aug 1, 2017

"I live in southern Ohio. The brown recluse spider has become prevalent in our area. I got bitten last night (but didn't see the spider) and developed the symptoms that are described in this article. I went to the ER and they confirmed it was a brown recluse bite. Thank you for your information. It saved me from a long hospital stay and loss of tissue."..." more

Rated this article:

CC

Chuck Courtney

Oct 26, 2018

"I live in south Mississippi. Many different spiders here. I have found a spider living in my water gauge. It has raised my interest as to type. Now I know what to check in the morning."..." more

LL

Laurie Levesque

Sep 7, 2018

"We live in South Florida. The past week we have spotted 3 brown spiders dangling from trees in our yard 5 - 6' from the ground. We caught one using a bug zapper. Based on what I read, they are not brown recluses because they reside in dry hidden places."..." more

DK

DeLynn Kelly-Brown

Aug 25, 2018

"We are moving to North Carolina soon and need to bone up on spiders and snakes, identifying and what to do if bitten. Great information!"..." more

DN

Debie Neuner

Apr 26, 2016

"Ok, had no idea what I was looking at. It was completely black before I sprayed it. The color seems to have vanished from the part connected to the head and became somewhat opaque. I am not sure if I killed a Brown Recluse, but I sure got some good advice about handling clothes and shoes I have not worn in a while. Time to clear the closet! And spray inside. Floods are bringing all kinds of creepy-crawlers in the Houston area homes. My skin is crawling just writing this. Thanks for the information. It will be put to good use."..." more

JQ

Jacob Querido

Apr 27, 2017

"Trying to figure what spider I just ran into in a secluded corner of our garage that hasn't been touched in several years. This spider is brown and has a round body, so I still don't know for sure if it's a brown recluse or not. May go ask it for more info, but suspicious that it's brown, in a secluded area and I didn't see a web. Article was helpful in what to look for. Thank you."..." more

Rated this article:

RU

Regina Ucker

Jun 6, 2017

"I've had an issue with spiders recently, and have been unsure of its species. I do live in an area that is native to the spider. The ones in my home are multicolored, black head then dark brown, and the body or abdomen is light in color with possible markings. The legs are darker. No fiddle marking. Still not sure what kind of spider for sure, but think it maybe a wolf spider."..." more

SS

Sheila Stitt

May 1, 2017

"I have recently had 4 large spiders come into my kitchen through a small space in the door to the back yard. I wasn't sure if they were brown recluse, but your live video cleared that up for me. Mine were not recluse! Thanks for sharing. :) The tips about spines on the legs and leg color were the obvious difference."..." more

Rated this article:

BC

Brenda Campbell

Jul 11, 2017

"I found a spider in my bathtub. I wasn't sure if it was a brown recluse or not, so I carefully caught it in a jar and started reading about brown spiders on the web. Thank goodness, it was not a brown recluse, and now I know how to tell if a spider is a brown recluse or not. Thank you."..." more

AH

Ashley Hughes

May 18, 2016

"My uncle lives on a farm and was freaking out about a spider that bit him. But the picture he sent was fuzzy. So having these questions to ask him helped us figure out that it wasn't a Brown Recluse. Excellent detailed information since a lot of features are similar to most spiders."..." more

A

Anonymous

Jun 19, 2017

"Overall, very good - breaks it down into many steps. Suggestion for improvement: You show a map with green and red, but do not state if the red is where the spiders liver or the green. how do I know that if green means the spider goes there or red is dangerous?"..." more

CW

Cynthia Weaver

Sep 20, 2016

"The article helped me to identify the brown recluse. We live in a rural area where the spider is prevalent in the whole state. We have a lot of spiders around our home. The article also gave me good tips on where the spider might live in our home. Thanks!"..." more

A

Anonymous

Jun 6, 2016

"Thank you so much for this, I was terrified for a moment.
I'm visiting Arkansas for an event and earlier today something flew into my hair from a tree. I woke up just now and saw what I thought was a Brown Recluse dead by my pillow. It was."..." more

RW

Rebecca Watson

Apr 26, 2017

"The spider I just saw was brown and large; not as large as a daddy longlegs, shaped like that but heavier-looking. I got spray and sprayed it, and it ran as I sprayed it more. All its running was fast, one of the identifiers you gave. Dead."..." more

BM

Bam Madison

Apr 25, 2018

"I learned a lot about the recluse spider. I get spiders here in my home often; inspector just says he can't do anything about the. Thanks, now I know to use the sticky traps around the house and places they may hide! "..." more

SC

Sandi Crane

Sep 28, 2017

"A very informative article about a very reclusive and dangerous spider. I have read some horror stories about the results of its bite. Don't think I would be looking at it with a magnifying glass. That's too close!"..." more

BJ

Bob Jeffers

Jun 4, 2018

"I thought I got bitten by a brown recluse spider; I read this article and there were the symptoms! I went to the ER and they confirmed that it was a brown recluse, but this article saved me a lot of time! Thanks!"..." more

Rated this article:

JC

Janice Coleman

Jul 20, 2016

"This article was very informative and helpful in helping me identify the brown recluse. Had a young nephew bitten by one, and he was very sick and had a terrible sore. Very thankful to find this article."..." more

BF

Barbara Foelske

Jul 29, 2016

"Identification, where they hide, not in daylight, checking bed and shoes. My dog got bitten by one. Was a nasty big mark on this head. Took 2 weeks to heal. Thanks for the article."..." more

LB

LindaDee Baker

Apr 28, 2017

"Good mix of prose and illustration. Excellent list of identifying characteristics; also, what to do if this spider is seen, how to keep from having problems with it. Thank you."..." more

MD

Ms. Lonell Dunhoft

Jul 26, 2016

"The picture of the brown recluse and what to do if you are bitten by the spider, I learned a lot in this information. Thanks for sharing this info for all of the people"..." more

WJ

Wyatt Johnson

Aug 25, 2016

"This article was great for showing me the most common places Recluses like to hide. Although I doubt anyone is going to get near a spider with a magnifying glass."..." more

PP

Phyllis Pope

Apr 23, 2017

"I was able to determine that the very dark, almost black spiders that my roommate found in our apartment lately are NOT brown recluse as she said."..." more

SG

Sally Gregg

Aug 26, 2017

"Just knowing where to look for this spider is helpful. I'm in the garden often, so it's good to know they're not there! (Hopefully)"..." more

CC

Chris Council

Oct 13, 2016

"It did help, but it would also be helpful to see a photograph of an actual live brown recluse. But the diagrams did help."..." more

GB

Glenda Bradley

Jun 21, 2016

"I've seen different types of spiders, didn't know what the Brown Recluse looked like but this helps. Thanks for sharing."..." more

Susan Allsbrook

May 31, 2017

"Thought I had one but I don't think it is now....he looks darker and more even toned than mine. Thanks for the video!"..." more

EG

Elliot Gardner

Jul 7, 2017

"I couldn't tell if a spider in my mailbox was a recluse or not. After reading this, I am sure it's not one."